Episode 626
Episode 626
'To think you're worried about that...' Suppressing a sigh, Giselle raised her head.
Still, she was her sister after all.
"Just focus on my swordsmanship. More importantly, why do you even need to show Wardanaz your swordsmanship?"
With no one else in the training hall, Jiklin dropped her usual stern demeanor and answered her younger sister's question more casually.
"I made a promise to show him, so I must." 'Did she now?' Giselle was puzzled.
When had that promise been made?
"Why would you make such a promise?"
"When I told him about my battle with the giant swordsman, he clapped and said he wanted to see my swordsmanship."
"......"
Wasn't that just polite small talk?
Giselle knew full well that Wardanaz was the type to flatter anyone if it served his needs.
Wasn't he the ruthless type who'd cheerfully say "What an excellent decision, haha" even if the Skeleton Principal sent the crown prince to the Punishment Room?
"There'll be opportunities."
"But you hardly ever meet him, right?" 'True enough.' Giselle paused as her sister hit the nail on the head.
Indeed, this winter was an exception—normally, Wardanaz had no reason to visit their family's territory.
That was probably for the best.
"How fortunate!"
"Giselle." 'Oops.' As Jiklin's expression hardened, Giselle realized her mistake.
"Friends should be cherished."
"No, I—"
"Don't put on airs."
"It's not putting on airs... Ugh. My apologies."
Knowing her sister's stubbornness well, Giselle simply gave up. Fortunately, Jiklin nodded in acceptance.
"But if it's about showing swordsmanship, didn't you already demonstrate during the last hunt? Haven't there been plenty of opportunities?"
"That wasn't a proper demonstration."
Jiklin tapped the scabbard with her finger.
To truly appreciate swordsmanship, one needed to face it directly.
And to face it directly, even in practice, a proper duel was best.
"......"
Giselle was horrified.
Even if it was among the family's knights, was it really acceptable for Jiklin to spar with an outsider??
"Th-that's a bit..."
"Giselle. Friends should be—"
"I do cherish them, that's why I'm saying this!"
Giselle truly didn't want to stand up for Wardanaz like this.
But how could she stay silent when Jiklin was about to break an outsider's limbs and rupture their muscles?
"You have to call me along too. Understood!?"
"Fine. Alright."
Jiklin gave her sister an affectionate look at her whining. Giselle was so dumbfounded she nearly grabbed the back of her neck.
As their conversation ended, knights began trickling into the training hall. Jiklin composed herself with perfect etiquette, as if her earlier relaxed demeanor had been a lie.
"Giselle. Show me your swordsmanship."
"Yes. ...Wait, sister. Why is Father keeping Wardanaz with him for so long?"
Distracted by the swordsmanship discussion, she'd overlooked it, but now that she thought about it, it was strange for the family head to be entertaining Wardanaz this long.
Did he really have that much to discuss with an outsider guest?
"Giselle. Focus on your swordsmanship." 'Ugh, seriously.'
The family head's attendant was startled when he entered the study.
The usually cold-faced family head was gazing at the young Wardanaz heir with an expression of satisfaction he'd never seen before.
If even their composed family head looked like that, it was practically honey dripping from his eyes.
"What is it?"
"Ah, yes! Lady Jiklin said she has something to discuss—"
"If it's not urgent, tell her to wait. Now. Let's continue, young Wardanaz. Do you think the northern cliff's gale barrier can also be improved?"
"I haven't inspected it yet, but if it follows the same structure as what we've resolved so far, it should be possible."
"Truly astonishing. I've never heard such stories from other mages before."
"Actually, it's because this method significantly increases the burden on individual mages while reducing reagent costs. It's not exactly conventional."
'Didn't he say they did this often at Einrogard?' The family head wondered inwardly.
If this method placed such a heavy burden on individual mages, shouldn't it be avoided for frequent use within Einrogard?
"Lee Han of Wardanaz. I can't possibly accept this purely out of goodwill."
"Haha. No, of course not."
Truth be told, Lee Han wouldn't have minded being paid.
But this wasn't Einrogard—it was the outside world, where imperial laws and customs prevailed. He couldn't just grab someone and demand money.
He was here as an invited guest of the family, alongside the Skeleton Principal. Charging gold coins under the pretext of repair work simply wasn't done.
Naturally, the family head knew this well too. Making repeated requests of a guest would be rude even from the host's side.
"What if I formally request Einrogard through the Headmaster? How would that be?"
"!"
Lee Han was impressed by the family head's words.
As expected of someone leading a great family like the Moradi—truly a courteous, kind, benevolent, and outstanding person.
Instead of asking for more free labor, he was already preparing to offer proper compensation.
'No wonder the Moradi Family is known as the Shield of the North. What an impressive family.'
"Yes. I'll be waiting."
Lee Han paused mid-reply.
Come to think of it, accepting a request like this would mean he'd have to return to this northern territory again...
Was that really okay?
'No. If I'm taking requests anyway, a familiar place would be better.'
Though Lee Han had exceptionally gone outside during his first year (and fought a Sea Serpent), starting from his second year, he often took on external requests that came to Einrogard.
Being a mage was, fundamentally, an expensive profession.
"Good. Let's proceed that way. Is there anything else you'd like to share?"
"How could I possibly—"
"Arrogance isn't exactly a virtue favored by the Empire. But I believe competent people should have a certain degree of arrogance. It's not arrogance—it's confidence."
'He must be close with the Headmaster.'
Lee Han made a slightly awkward face at the catchphrase he'd heard somewhere before.
Unaware that his remark had slightly lowered his favorability, the family head continued.
"And how often do we get guests like you? I'm simply curious. Speak freely—no need to hold back. It doesn't even have to be about magic."
The family head gazed at Lee Han with eyes full of affection and expectation.
A mere student who'd just finished his first year could improve the magical designs of an entire territory?
He'd doubted it, given the Wardanaz family's reputation, but it turned out to be true.
A genius like this might offer fresh perspectives beyond just magic!
"Well... I did have one thought. This territory has many apprentice knights from other northern knight families, doesn't it?"
"That's correct."
Many scions of knight families came here to train and interact under the Moradi name.
Of course, it was costly, but considering the prestige and strength it brought the family in the North, it was well worth the investment.
"From what I've seen, these apprentice knights seem to have... rather too much free time."
"Too much free time?"
Intrigued, the family head tilted his head forward, changing his expression to listen more intently.
"Yes. They wander around chatting during their spare time, visiting other guests to talk..."
"Hmm. But for knights, interacting with peers from other families is essential."
"Absolutely. I understand how important networking is. But the problem is they're wasting far too much time using that as an excuse!"
Lee Han's voice carried genuine frustration—having been constantly pestered by bored knights looking for entertainment.
The sincerity in his words reached the family head as well.
'...'
He's absolutely right!'
For a family head who always pursued efficiency and rationality, the criticism from the boy of the Wardanaz family was sharp and painfully accurate.
To have his own bad habits—ones he should have corrected himself—pointed out by an outsider...
"They should be forbidden from wandering around unnecessarily outside of designated hours. Just like the Einrogard way."
"Could you elaborate further?"
Mentioning the "Einrogard way" made it sound even more plausible and effective.
Lee Han nodded and pointed to the lodging area where knights from other families were staying on the map.
"Look. These lodgings are located too centrally within the territory. The moment they step outside, the layout makes it too easy for them to wander off elsewhere. In my opinion, all these towers should be relocated to the cliffside. That way, they wouldn't dare sneak out..."
"......"
The family head stared at Lee Han with eyes as sharp as burning ice.
This was the first time he had ever genuinely wanted to make a young man his chief aide.
If only he weren't from another family and school—he would have made any offer to keep him by his side!
"What on earth did you two talk about for so long?"
"Nothing much, really?"
It felt like all he had done for the past few days was eat, sleep, and talk with the family head.
Lee Han took a big bite of rye bread topped with pickled herring and fried onions. Eating with the family head had been tense, so he hadn't been able to relax and enjoy his meals.
Alsicle, sitting beside him, joked lightly.
"Don't be fooled, Moradi. When a Wardanaz says 'nothing much,' you absolutely can't trust it."
"Ah, Sir Alsicle of the Pengerin Family, who left to repair the ice walls! My apologies. I had no idea I came across as that kind of person!"
"...Hey... I said I'm sorry..."
When Lee Han deliberately addressed him with exaggerated politeness, Alsicle was utterly flustered.
"Just call me Alsicle like usual! Normally!"
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Sir Alsicle of the Pengerin Family."
"I won't run away again...! I'm really sorry! It wasn't on purpose! Hey, I'll do any favor you ask next time! Seriously! Even if it's eating a hundred sardines!"
"Haha. Sir Alsicle. I don't know what you're talking about. Haven't I always called you casually?"
Giselle, who had been watching their ridiculous exchange, yawned and asked again.
"So, what did you talk about?"
"I told you, nothing much. 'The territory is pretty,' 'The territory is nice.' Oh, and the family head mentioned he's commissioning Einrogard. Since they'll be coming during the semester, he asked if I wanted to join."
"What? That can't be."
Lee Han was puzzled by Giselle's reaction.
"Why not? Is there some reason Einrogard shouldn't be commissioned?"
"Because it's expensive."
"......"
The reason was so brutally practical that Lee Han momentarily wondered if Giselle was joking.
But Alsicle nodded in understanding.
"She's right. Einrogard is expensive."
"That much?"
"Sometimes I consider hiring an Einrogard student as a magic experiment assistant, but when I see the cost, I just endure it."
"Wait, but even then, is the school that short on funds?"
"Well, magic experiments are even more expensive."
'Just how recklessly do the seniors spend money...?'
It felt like even bathing in a golden tub filled with gold coins would be less financially straining than this...
"Did talking about magic take that long?"
"Probably. But why is it so noisy outside?"
"The lodging for the visiting knights was moved. To the edge of the cliff."
Giselle answered Alsicle's question absentmindedly.
Lee Han flinched.
'Did I go too far?'
"Why?"
"Who knows? They said it was to improve the knights' discipline... Wardanaz, something important happened while you were talking these past few days."
"The banquet tomorrow evening? I know. Don't worry."
"Tomorrow morning, my sister is going to duel you."
"......That's too cruel, Moradi. How could you do this to me?"
"...Hey!!"